Improvement in direct-acting engines



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

JOHN STGR-ER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DIRECT-ACTING ENGINES.

Specification Vforming part of Letters Patent No. 911,665, dated September T, 1969.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN STORET-i, of the city, county, and State of New York, have in,- vented a new and useful Improvement in Direct-Acting Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l represents a longitudinal section of' this invention. Fin'. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. J is adetached longitudinal section of the auxiliary cylinder, which controls the motion ofthe slide-valve or slidevalves of the main steam-cylinder. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of direct-actin g engines in which the valve-motion is effected by the action of the pistons working in the main steamcylinder, and in the pumping or blowing cylinder, upon a tappet rod or pin, which projects through the heads of said cylinders and controls the valve-motion of an auxiliary cylinder, the piston-rod of which connects with the slide valve or slide-valves of the main steam-cylinder.

Sald improvements consist, among other things, in the arrangement ot' an adjustable slide, in combination with the lever, which transmits the motion ot' the tappet-rod to the slide-valve of the auxiliary cylinder, and which may be termed the valve-lever, in such a manner that the time occupied by the motion of said slide-valve can be accommodated to the velocity of the motion of the main piston or pistons, and that said main piston or pistons can be prevented from slamming against the heads of their cylinders; also, in the arrangement of a frictiolrclutch, in combination with the valve-lever and adjustable slide, in such a manner that said valve-lever is permitted to follow the motion of the tappet-rod after the valve of the auxiliary cylinder has completed its stroke, and injury to the mechanism is prevented; further, in the arrangement of a double exhaust in the auxiliary cylinder, which controls the valve-motion of the main steam-cylinder, in such a manner that the exhaust from either end of the cylinder can be easily regulated and the valve-motion can be rendered easy 5 also, in the arrangement of an air-cushion cylinder, in combination with the valve-motion of the main steamcylinder, in such a manner that the slide-valve or slide-valves of said main cylinder are prevented from slamming if the engine is worked rapidly; further, in the arrangement of a gage, secured to the head of the main steamcylinder, or to that ofthe blowing or pumping cylinder, in such a manner that thel distance between the piston or plunger when it reaches either end of its stroke and between the cylinder-head can always be observed, and the valve-motion can be regulated in time to prevent injury.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the main steam-cylinder of a direct-acting engine, in which works the piston B, which connects, by a rod, C, with the piston or plunger D of the pumping or blowing cylinder E. The steam in the cylinder A is changed by the action of slide-valves F, which are inclosed in the valve-chest G, and are connected by arod, H, with the piston I of the auxiliary cylinder J. This cylinder is provided with a slidevalve, K, to which the required motion is imparted by means of a rock-shaft, a., that has its bearings in the sides of the valve-chest, and receives the required oscillating motion by a lever, b, and by a tappet rod or pin, o, which extends through the heads d c of the cylinders A and E, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, so that the piston B, as it approaches the head d, will push said tappet-rod in one direction, and the piston or plunger D, as it approaches the head c, will push said tappetrod in the opposite direction. To this tappetrod is secured an oblong box, L, the front plate of which is slotted and forms the guide for a slide, f, which is carried up and down by a screw, g, which has its bearings in the ends of the box L and is tapped into the slide j'.

From said slide extends a pin, vwhich catches into a slot in the lever b, so that, by imparting to the tappet-rod c a reciprocating motion, an oscillating motion is imparted to the lever b. This lever is iitted loosely on the rock-shaft a., and-it is provided with a disk, h, which is pressed up, by means of a nut, if, against a similar diskhy', secured to the rock-shaft. The

disks 7i and j therefore form a friction-clutch, which serves to transmit the motion of the lever b to the rock-shaft a, and through it to the slide-valve K of the auxiliary cylinder, and which allows the lever b to move independent ofthe valve after said valve has completed its stroke. This arrangement is indispensable, because the motion of the lever b varies according to the position of the slide j', while the. motion of the slide-valve always remains the same. It the slide f is moved down in the box L, a longer motion of the tappet-rod c is required to throw the slide-valve K from one end of its chest to the other tha-n'if said slide is moved up, and since the motion of the tappet-rod c is always the same, the motion of the slide-valve must be so adjusted that it will complete its stroke if the slide j' is moved clear down in the box L 5 and, consequently, if said slide is moved up, the lever b must be allowed to move independent of. the slide- -valve, so as to avoid injury to the working parts.

By adjusting the slide f up or down, the time required for throwing the slide-valve K is shortened or lengthened, and if the engine works rapidly the slidef is moved up, so that a comparatively short motion of the tappetrod o is suicient to throw the slide-valve K, and the pistons of the engine are prevented from slamming against their heads; but if the engine runs slowly, the slide f is moved down, so that the pistons B and D are allowed to come close to the heads of their cylinders before the valve is changed, and thereby waste of steam is avoided.

A gage, M, which is secured in the head of cate the distance to which the pistons approach the heads of their cylinders; and if this distance appears too small or too large, the slide fis adjusted up or down. In the example shown here said gage consists of a rod, which extends through the head of the cylinder, and carries an index traversing on a scale marked on a slotted tube, which incloses a spring that has a tendency to force the rod into the cylinder. As the piston strikes the inner end of said rod the index is moved, and the distance to which the piston approaches the cylinder-head on each stroke can be readily observed.

The auxiliary cylinder J is provided with a double exhaust, k k', (best seen in Fig. 3,) each of which is to be provided with a stop-valve, so that the exhaust from either end of said cylinder can be regulated, and thereby the motion of the main slide-valve is rendered easy.

If the engine runs rapidly, the main slidevalves, being heavy, have a tendency to slam, and in this case the exhausts or' the auxiliary cylinder are partly closed, so as to cushion the piston in said cylinder and prevent slamming of the main slide-valves. By having a double exhaust the cushioning at each end of the auxiliary cylinder can be regulated as may be required. Instead of cushioning the auxiliary piston, however, or in addition thereto, an aircushion cylinder, N, may be applied, the piston of which connects with the main slidevalve or slide-valves. This cylinder is provid- Yed with suitable air supply and discharge openings, and the discharge-openings are regulated by suitable stop-cocks, so that the degree of cushioning can be accommodated to the speed at which the engine runs.

rlhese improvements are applicable to direct-acting engines of every description, but they are particular-ly valuable for direct-acting blowing-engines, since the air in a blowingcylinder is less able to counteract the momentum of a heavypiston than the water in a pumping-cylinder. Y That I claim as new, and desire to secure,

1.' The slidef and lever b, in 'combination with the tappet-rod c and with the slideevalve of an auxiliary cylinder, J, controlling the valve-motion of a direct-acting engine, suby Vst-antially as shown and described.

either of the cylinders E or A, serves to indi- 2. lThe friction-disks lij, in combination with the slide f, lever b, tappet-rod c, and slidevalve K, substantially in the manner set forth. 3. The arrangement of a double exhaust in 'the auxiliary cylinder J, controlling the ,valvei motion of a direct-acting engine,substantially as described.

4. rI lhe arrangement of the air-cushion cylinder N with reference to the valves F, rod H, and valve K, substantially as described.

5. The gage, in combination with the cylinder-head and piston, substantially as described.

J OHN STORER.

Vitnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsrnNnUnnn.. 

